China becomes Singapore's largest tourist source

The number of Chinese tourists travelling to Singapore in a single year has topped the three-million mark for the first time, making China the largest source of tourism for the island nation.
China News Service

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The number of Chinese tourists travelling to Singapore in a single year has topped the three-million mark for the first time, making China the largest source of tourism for the island nation.

According to statistics released by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) on Monday, a total of 3.22 million trips were made by Chinese citizens in 2017 - an increase of 13 percent compared to 2016, China News Service reports.

This substantial growth has helped China overtake Indonesia to become Singapore's biggest tourist source, given its southern neighbour saw an annual rise of just two percent.

By spending US$2.3bn, the world's most populous country has also maintained its position as the highest contributor to Singapore's tourism sector for the third straight year.

An extended airline network has been among the reasons given for the rise in Chinese visitors, the STB noted.

To further develop the Chinese market, Singapore needs to reach independent travellers and younger generations by utilising further its widely-popular online live-streaming marketing strategy, according to an assistant director at the STB's international division.

Singapore, renowned for its Garden City image, attracted a total of 17.4 million tourists in 2017. The six-percent annual growth figure was boosted in the main by tourists from China and India.

Chi Dehua
has been a staff editor at GBTIMES since 2013. She covers foreign affairs, business and culture.